Nursing garment

ABSTRACT

A nursing garment for supporting the breasts of a user, and having an upper torso portion shaped to extend over the breasts and back of the user and a lower torso portion attached to said upper body portion and shaped to extend over the waist and at least a portion of said upper torso portion, wherein said lower torso portion has an openable flap to provide a nursing infant access to one or both breasts of the user. The openable flap has a first generally triangular portion and a second generally triangular portion which are foldable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the breasts of the user are concealed, and wherein in the open position one or both breasts of the user are exposed. Each of the first and second generally triangular portions may be releasably attached to the upper torso portion using fastening means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of nursing garments, and more particularly to nursing garment that comfortably supports the breasts of a user and allows access to the breast by a nursing infant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many women experience an increase in both the size and weight of their breasts during the early stages of pregnancy. This growth and maturation of the breast continues following the birth of an infant child to ensure that the nutritional needs of the growing infant are met until the child is weaned from the breast. For a nursing mother with large breasts, considerable strain may be exerted on their back and shoulders during this nursing stage.

A wide variety of garments have been developed that incorporate a built-in nursing bra. These garments address a variety of problems encountered by mothers when nursing their infant children, such as the convenience of wearing a garment which provides immediate access by an infant child to her breast, and the modesty of the mother by ensuring that her breasts are not unnecessarily exposed in public. However, due to the pressure caused by bra straps that weigh heavily on the shoulders of a nursing mother, these existing garments do little to alleviate the back and shoulder strain experienced by most mothers.

Moreover, known nursing garments are intended to be worn beneath the mother's clothing in the same fashion as an undershirts or bra. The extra layer of clothing may cause considerable discomfort during the warm summer months.

Accordingly, there is a need for a nursing garment that provides adequate support to the breasts of a nursing mother to minimize the occurrence of back and shoulder strain. There is also a need for a nursing garment that may be worn as an everyday article of clothing, and be easily adapted to facilitate the nursing of an infant child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a nursing garment for supporting the breasts of a user, and having an upper torso portion shaped to extend over the breasts and back of the user and a lower torso portion attached to said upper body portion and shaped to extend over the waist and at least a portion of said upper torso portion, wherein said lower torso portion has an openable flap to provide a nursing infant access to one or both breasts of the user. The openable flap has a first generally triangular portion and a second generally triangular portion which are foldable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the breasts of the user are concealed, and wherein in the open position one or both breasts of the user are exposed. Each of the first and second generally triangular portions may be releasably attached to the upper torso portion using one or more complementary fastening means.

The nursing garment includes one or more complementary fastening means with one or more upper fasteners secured to the upper torso portion and one or more lower fasteners secured to the lower torso portion. The one or more lower fasteners couple with the one or more upper fasteners to releasably secure the lower torso portion to the upper torso portion.

The first generally triangular portion is foldable across a first crease line, and the second generally triangular portion is foldable across a second crease line. Each of the first and second generally triangular portions are releasably attached to the upper torso portion. The upper torso portion is formed with a collar extending around the neck of the user. Each of the first and second generally triangular portions are releasably attached to the collar. The first and second generally triangular portions may be releasably secured to the upper torso portion using the one or more complementary fastening means. The one or more upper fasteners are secured to the collar, and wherein the one or more lower fasteners are secured to the apex of each of the first and second generally triangular portions. The one or more lower fasteners couple with the one or more upper fasteners to releasably secure the first and second generally triangular portions to the collar.

The one or more complementary fastening means may be hook and loop fasteners or buttons.

The upper torso portion has a support portion for supporting the breasts of the user. The support portion having two generally recessed portions to receive and support the breasts of the user, and wherein each of the recessed portions may have an opening formed therein for surrounding and exposing a nipple portion of the breast of the user. The upper torso portion having an elastic band disposed circumferentially along a bottom edge of the support portion.

The nursing garment may be short-sleeved or long-sleeved. The nursing garment may also be a woman's t-shirt or a woman's blouse. The upper and lower torso portions may be made of elastic stretch material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a nursing garment made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nursing garment including a collar to which the support straps are attached;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the subject nursing garment;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the subject nursing garment with a round neck collar;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the subject nursing garment with a v-neck collar;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the subject nursing garment showing the elastic band circumferentially disposed around the upper torso portion;

FIG. 6 is partial perspective view of the complementary fastening means of the subject nursing garment;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the complementary fastening means of FIG. 6 along axis A-A; and

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the subject nursing garment in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which illustrate a nursing garment 10 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Nursing garment 10 comprises an upper torso portion 12 and a lower torso portion 14 which together form a generally shirt-like shape that may be worn by a female user 16 as a regular article of clothing and be easily adapted to enable the nursing of her infant child. The nursing garment 10 is preferably made from a durable elastic fabric that is reasonably soft to be comfortable for both user and infant child.

Referring to FIG. 2, upper torso portion 12 has a front side 18 and a back side 20, and is shaped to extend over the breasts and back of the user 16. The upper torso portion 12 has a collar 22 that extends generally around the neck of the user and a bottom edge 24 along the front side 18. The collar 22 may be formed in various styles, including a round neck or a v-neck, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. Conveniently, the collar 18, upper torso portion 12 and lower torso portion 14 may be made from the same material. However, it is to be understood that the nursing garment of the present invention, including the collar 22, upper torso portion 12 and lower torso portion 14, may be made from any suitable material or fabric.

The upper torso portion 12 also includes a support portion 21 for supporting the breasts of the user. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support portion 21 has a first cup portion 26 and a second cup portion 26′ (not shown) which receive and support the breasts of the user. The first and second cup portions 26 and 26′ may be sized in accordance with conventional bra sizing methods.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each of the first and second cup portions 26 and 26′ are formed with openings 28 and 28′, respectively, therein which surround and expose the nipples of the user's breasts. An elastic band 30 is disposed circumferentially around the upper torso portion 12 at the level of the bottom edge 24 to provide additional support to the breasts of the users. The bottom edge 24 of the upper torso portion and an inner edge 32 of the lower torso portion are attached to the elastic band 30 to form a seam 34.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, lower torso portion 14 is shaped to extend over the waist of the user and at least a portion of upper torso portion 12. Lower torso portion 14 includes an openable flap 36 that is foldable about the inner edge 32 and that is adapted to provide a nursing infant access to one or both breasts of the user. Openable flap 36 is foldable between a closed position and an open position. When folded into the closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the openable flap 36 is positioned to conceal the breasts of the user. In the open position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the openable flap 36 folded downwardly to expose one or both nipples of the user through openings 28 and 28′ provided in the upper torso portion 12.

The openable flap 36 includes first generally triangular portion 38 and a second generally triangular portion 38′. Each of the first and second generally triangular portions 38 and 38′ are adapted to open to allow an infant child access to its mother's breast. In the closed position as shown in FIG. 5, the first and second generally triangular portions 38 and 38′ are releasably attached to the upper torso portion 12 to conceal the user's breasts.

Preferably, the first and second generally triangular portions 38 and 38′ are releasably attached to the collar 22 of the upper torso portion 12. By this design, the weight of the user's breasts is supported along the collar 22 of the nursing garment 10 thereby distributing the weight evenly across the upper back and shoulders of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the first and second generally triangular portions 38, 38′ of the lower torso portion 14 are releasably secured to the collar 22 of the upper torso portion 12 using one or more complementary fastening means 40. The complementary fastening means 40 include one or more upper fasteners 42, 42′ provided on the collar 22 of the upper torso portion 12 which mate with one or more lower fasteners 44, 44′ secured adjacent to the apexes 46, 46′ of each of the first and second generally triangular portions 38, 38′. In a closed position, the lower fasteners 44, 44′ mate with the upper fasteners 42, 42′ to releasably secure the lower torso portion 14 to the upper torso portion 12, thereby concealing the nipples of the user. The location of the one or more complementary fastening means 40 on the collar 22 may be varied depending on the size of the first and second generally triangular portions and the shape of the collar. The complementary fastening means 40 may be any conventional type known in the art, such as, for example, hook and loop fasteners, Velcro® strips, snaps, buttons, hooks, and clasps. The complementary fastening means 40 may also be adjustable to enable to user to adjust the comfort and support of the nursing garment 10.

In an open position shown in FIG. 1, the first generally triangular portion 38 may be folded generally downwardly about a first crease line 48 to expose the left nipple of the user. In this open position, the folded first generally triangular portion 38 acts as at least a partial shield to the infant child nursing. Similarly, the second generally triangular portion 38′ may be folded generally downwardly about a second crease line 48′ to expose the right nipple of the user. Again, in this open position, the folded second generally triangular portion 38′ acts as at least a partial shield to the infant child nursing. As discussed above, both the first and second generally triangular portions 38, 38′ of the openable flap may be folded downwardly about the inner edge 32 to expose the nipples of both breasts of the user.

In use, when breast feeding is necessary or desirable, the female user may releasably detach the first generally triangular portion of the openable flap nearest the head of her infant child, and fold said generally triangular portion downwardly to expose her nipple. The second generally triangular portion may remain secured to the upper torso portion, thereby acting as a modesty shield behind which the infant child may feed without discomforting the user in public. When it becomes necessary to change breasts, the user may refasten the first generally triangular portion to the upper torso portion, reposition the infant child adjacent to the other breast, and detach and fold downwardly the second generally triangular portion. With the second generally triangular portion in an open position, the infant child may resume nursing from the user's second breast.

While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptions of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. 

1. A nursing garment for supporting the breasts of a user, comprising: (a) an upper torso portion shaped to extend over the breasts, and back of the user; and (b) a lower torso portion attached to said upper body portion and shaped to extend over the waist and at least a portion of said upper torso portion, wherein said lower torso portion has an openable flap to provide a nursing infant access to one or both breasts of the user.
 2. The nursing garment defined in claim 2, wherein said openable flap is foldable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the breasts of the user are concealed, and wherein in the open position one or both breasts of the user are exposed.
 3. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said lower torso portion is releasably secured to said upper torso portion using one or more complementary fastening means.
 4. The nursing garment defined in claim 3, wherein said one or more complementary fastening means comprise one or more upper fasteners secured to said upper torso portion and one or more lower fasteners secured to said lower torso portion.
 5. The nursing garment defined in claim 4, wherein said one or more lower fasteners couple with said one or more upper fasteners to releasably secure said lower torso portion to said upper torso portion.
 7. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said openable flap has a first generally triangular portion and a second generally triangular portion.
 8. The nursing garment defined in claim 7, wherein each of said first and second generally triangular portions are foldable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the breasts of the user are concealed, and wherein in the open position one or both breasts of the user are exposed.
 9. The nursing garment defined in claim 8, wherein said first generally triangular portion is foldable across a first crease line, and wherein said second generally triangular portion is foldable across a second crease line.
 10. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second generally triangular portions are releasably attached to said upper torso portion.
 11. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion is formed with a collar extending around the neck of the user.
 12. The nursing garment defined in claim 11, wherein each of said first and second generally triangular portions are releasably attached to said collar.
 13. The nursing garment defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second generally triangular portions are releasably secured to said upper torso portion using one or more complementary fastening means.
 14. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said one or more upper fasteners are secured to said collar, and wherein said one or more lower fasteners are secured to the apex of each of said first and second generally triangular portions.
 15. The nursing garment defined in claim 14, wherein said one or more lower fasteners couple with said one or more upper fasteners to releasably secure said first and second generally triangular portions to said collar.
 16. The nursing garment defined in claims 3 and 13, wherein said one or more complementary fastening means are hook and loop fasteners.
 17. The nursing garment defined in claims 3 and 13, wherein said one or more complementary fastening means are buttons.
 18. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion has a support portion for supporting the breasts of the user.
 19. The nursing garment defined in claim 15, wherein said support portion having two generally recessed portions to receive and support the breasts of the user, and wherein each of said recessed portions having an opening formed therein for surrounding and exposing a nipple portion of the breast of the user.
 20. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said upper torso portion having an elastic band disposed circumferentially along a bottom edge of said support portion.
 21. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said nursing garment is short-sleeved or long-sleeved.
 22. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said nursing garment is a woman's t-shirt.
 23. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said nursing garment is a woman's blouse.
 24. The nursing garment defined in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower torso portions are made of elastic stretch material. 